After they had more or less finished eating, Ian followed Diol to the training ground.
Ordinary knights were not permitted to use this place. It was reserved exclusively for those of Berger blood.
Accordingly, it was well maintained, spotless, and quiet.
“It seems more ordinary than I expected, Young Master.”
Mael quietly approached Ian’s side and spoke to him.
“What does? The training ground?”
“Yes.”
Ian let out an incredulous laugh.
“Why? Did you expect Mana Stones to be embedded everywhere?”
“Hmm! That was certainly one possibility, but I expected you to train somewhere more secretive. Somewhere other than such an open space. For example… underground.”
“……”
“Please do not look at me as though I were utterly ridiculous. Is it not entirely possible? Lampas was built after the summit of a mountain was blasted away. I suspect there must be at least one secret training ground that outsiders know nothing about.”
“Yes, there probably is. A secret place that only the family head or the person destined to become the family head may use.”
Moreover, as Mael had said, Lampas was a fortress.
It was a fortress among fortresses, built with the full might of the empire during its most perilous era.
It already contained underground storehouses designed to preserve food for extended periods and a treasure vault filled with all manner of rare valuables. It would hardly be strange if unknown passages or hidden chambers also existed within it.
“Hmm. In that case, I suppose you will never know the answer to this question either, Young Master.”
“…Are you trying to provoke me?”
“Surely not. I was merely helping you relax.”
That was what he said, but Mael’s gaze was impudent, as though he were disappointed that Ian could not satisfy his curiosity.
When Ian glanced sharply at him, Mael discreetly stepped away.
Ian gave another incredulous laugh.
“That is enough idle chatter. Come here and sit down.”
The three of them sat side by side on the cold stone floor.
“…Oh?”
The sight was exceedingly unexpected to Diol.
It was widely known among the members of House Berger that Ian felt inferior to Mael and Marie.
Even so, Diol had entrusted the two of them with bringing Ian back because such negative feelings would not help him survive in the world.
He had hoped Ian would resolve the resentment festering within him while they traveled together and become as close to them as possible, given that they were all around the same age.
Diol would have been satisfied if they merely avoided behaving awkwardly around one another. Yet Ian showed no discomfort despite sitting directly beside them, so things appeared to have gone rather well.
However, Diol was concerned that Ian’s inferiority complex might erupt again during this training once the difference in their talent became apparent.
Still, he had no intention of postponing the lesson merely because he was worried.
Ian would surely overcome it.
Hoping that would be the case, Diol began to speak.
“Good. First, allow me to congratulate you.”
“Congratulate us?”
Marie murmured in confusion.
Hearing her, Diol raised the corners of his mouth in a broad grin.
“Of course! This is certainly something worth celebrating! What you are about to learn is one of the Forms of Evilbane! It is admired by countless people and feared by your enemies. To put it crudely, it is a damned magnificent technique! Watch!”
As soon as he spoke, brilliant red energy surged from Diol’s entire body.
The blazing aura made it appear as though he had been engulfed in fire.
In reality, that was not far from the truth.
The Evilbane Cultivation Method did not merely cause mana to manifest in the shape of flames. It gave mana the actual properties of fire.
As a result, intense heat radiated from him as well.
Yet Diol continued smiling with an utterly composed expression.
The clothes he wore remained intact, and none of the belongings on his body were affected.
This was possible because of the resistance to fire he had acquired while learning Evilbane and his precise control over mana.
“Impressive, is it not?”
Watching the proudly smiling Diol, Mael and Marie stared in fascination and answered.
“Yes.”
“Of course, I do not expect you to do this immediately. Transforming your mana into flames and covering your entire body with them only becomes possible from the Fourth Ring onward.”
A person’s attainment in Evilbane was determined by the number of rings surrounding the Dantian.
Once a certain amount of mana had been accumulated, another ring could be created around the Dantian, which served as the central axis. The principle was somewhat similar to a mage’s Circles.
However, unlike a mage, each new ring had to be larger than the previous one. The rings formed in this manner moved independently and drew out greater power.
From the First to the Third Ring, drawing upon one’s mana produced little more than a shimmering haze. Upon reaching the Fourth Ring, however, one could surround oneself with flames rather than a mere haze, just as Diol was doing now.
“This Fourth Ring—or, to put it simply, Level 4—is your first objective and a stage you must reach. Only after achieving it can you truly claim to have learned Evilbane. Of course, your attainment would still be far too low to boast about it. And then…”
The flames surging around Diol’s body flowed into one hand and formed a sphere.
It did not end there.
The sphere stretched into a long shape and transformed into a spear.
The spear, composed of rolling flames, possessed an artistic beauty merely from its appearance.
Diol twirled it around his fingertips before hurling it toward a distant target.
WHOOSH—
The spear flew as swiftly as an arrow. The moment it struck the target, flames erupted and swept across the surrounding area.
While the three stared blankly at the sight, the sound of clapping rang out.
CLAP CLAP.
When they came to their senses and turned their heads, they saw Diol grinning.
“This is the Evilbane First Form, Meteor Spear, which you will begin learning today. Why do you think Red Spear Knights are called Red Spear Knights? It is because beginning every battle by launching a Meteor Spear became their defining symbol. Therefore, before anything else, you must learn how to use it as a fundamental technique! That is enough explanation for now. You have seen it once, so… it is time to try it yourselves, is it not?”
At that moment, Marie raised her hand.
“Vice-Captain.”
“Yes, speak.”
“Is there no theory manual? We already learned from the senior knights that we do not recite Incantations, but there must still be formulas governing the adjustment, arrangement, and manifestation of mana. This is not a technique one simply learns physically like swordsmanship, is it?”
“Oh, Marie. That is an excellent question! Naturally, a theory manual has been prepared. Attempting it entirely through guesswork would indeed be unreasonable.”
Marie nodded.
Every Red Spear Knight she had seen created a Meteor Spear of exactly the same length and shape, as though they had all agreed upon it in advance.
That meant there was an established framework.
“Then…”
“However, it is too early for you to study the theory manual. Before studying it, you must first develop a feel for the technique.”
Ian looked at Diol with a doubtful expression.
“We only need to create the shape?”
“Yes. Simple, is it not? However, it will not be as easy as it sounds. Creating a sphere may not trouble you, but transforming and maintaining its shape will prove difficult. That is enough talking. Try it one at a time. Mael, you will go first.”
“Yes!”
Mael sprang to his feet with great enthusiasm, stepped back, and formed flames within his grasp.
The process went smoothly until the flames gathered into a sphere. The problem began after that.
The sphere writhed as he struggled to alter its shape, but that was as far as he managed to progress.
“Yes, that is it. You are doing well. As expected, you never disappoint me, Mael.”
“Tha—”
“Do not answer. Just listen. The most important elements in every Evilbane technique are your imagination and your belief. Think about what you are trying to create. What must you make? A Meteor Spear. A spear with a long shaft and a sharp point! It must also be solid! Create a skeleton with mana, then allow the flames to cover it like skin.”
Diol paused briefly to swallow.
“However, you must never hold an unrealistic belief, such as imagining ‘a spear that can never break’ or ‘a spear capable of piercing anything.’ A spear can break. It can also be blocked. Weapons are expendable. If your attack fails, your belief will falter, and the stability of your technique will inevitably weaken.”
Watching Mael concentrate, Diol turned his gaze toward Marie.
Although he had not called her name, she instinctively realized that it was her turn and took her position without being told.
She immediately began.
She summoned flames, gathered them into a sphere, and started shaping them.
“There is no need to be impatient. This is your first attempt, so it is only natural to be unskilled.”
Yet geniuses were geniuses.
Hardly any time had passed, but Mael was already stretching the sphere of flame he had created into an elongated shape. Refusing to fall behind, Marie was also rapidly developing a feel for the technique.
“What?”
Diol could not suppress his admiration as he watched them.
‘I expected them to be talented, but I did not expect them to progress this quickly. If they succeed at this rate, they will certainly be faster than I was. Compared to our eldest brother… they are still slower, I suppose.’
Berdan, the eldest son of House Berger, was known as a once-in-an-era genius.
The fact that the siblings were approaching the record he had set proved beyond doubt that they were exceptionally gifted.
Diol was pleased that such outstanding talent belonged to the Red Spear Knights, yet he could not conceal his complicated feelings.
The reason was his younger brother, Ian.
‘Was it a mistake to offer to teach them together?’
The useless fool had finally come to his senses after living like a ruined man for so long.
Diol worried that Ian might lose all motivation the moment he began learning Evilbane.
Unable to stop himself from worrying, he discreetly shifted his gaze and examined Ian’s face.
Fortunately, Ian did not look the way Diol had feared.
Diol had worried that Ian might watch the twins with envy and resentment, but instead, his expression overflowed with confidence.
Diol wanted to tell him that there was no need to become discouraged or despair even if he failed. However, saying so before Ian even attempted the technique might trample upon his pride, so Diol remained silent.
“Ian!”
“Gasp.”
Perhaps startled by Diol’s sudden shout, Mael inhaled sharply from behind them.
Marie’s concentration broke as well.
The spheres of flame hovering over their hands dispersed.
Diol turned his attention away from them and looked back at Ian.
“Ian, it is your turn.”
Ian nodded and prepared himself.
He stood, brushed the sand from his backside, took his position, and drew upon his mana.
The mana he had diligently accumulated near the Mana Vein was so pure that it was difficult to believe he was only at Level 2.
A shimmering haze rose from his entire body as though it might ignite at any moment.
WHOOSH!
Flames danced between his fingers.
‘Gather them.’
The flames converged within his palm and formed a sphere.
‘Transform the shape…’
This much was nothing.
Before his regression, he had performed the same process countless times whenever he used his techniques.
However, because this was his first time doing it with this body, the difference felt pronounced.
While training at the villa, he should not have focused solely on accumulating mana and building his stamina. He should have practiced this from time to time as well.
The regret came too late, but Ian paid it no mind.
‘That does not mean I cannot do it.’
He had lost many things when he regressed, but there were two things he had retained.
His memories and his experience.
They had become the foundation for his rapid growth, and in situations such as this, they showed him the path forward.
Ian moved his mana.
The sphere of fire writhed in response to his will.
Slowly.
He did not rush.
He had done this countless times before.
It had simply been a long time.
At last, the writhing sphere stretched outward.
At that moment, a thrill coursed down Ian’s spine as though he had been struck by lightning.
It felt as though he had recovered a sensation he had completely forgotten.
A spear was completed in the blink of an eye.
It did not yet possess the actual properties of a Meteor Spear, but in outward appearance, it was nearly flawless.
“What?”
Diol blinked repeatedly, unable to believe what he was seeing, while Mael and Marie stared in admiration.
Ian grasped the spear radiating intense heat and calmly exhaled.
This was not something worth celebrating.
He had succeeded not because of pure talent, but because of the experience he carried from before his regression.
In truth, it was almost like cheating.
“What will we learn next?”
“…You will practice only this today. I will distribute the theory manuals tomorrow, so study them carefully. I will personally supervise your training at this time every day. Mael and Marie have already sworn the oath, so there is no problem with them. But Ian.”
“Yes?”
“You have not. Therefore, I will warn you now. Should you allow the theory manual or anything else related to Evilbane to leave the family, you will not escape punishment merely because you are the third son of House Berger. Be careful.”
Ian gave a faint laugh.
“That is a needless concern.”